The tribe where big is definitely beautiful

The tribe where big is definitely beautiful: Ethiopian men compete to be the fattest in the village by drinking a gruesome mixture of blood and milk while living in isolation for SIX months

• Men from the Bodi tribe compete to become the fattest during the new year or Ka'el ceremony
• They spend six months guzzling a mixture of blood and milk in a bid to fatten up as fast as they can
• The winning fat man doesn't get a prize but is feted as a hero for life by the rest of the tribe
• Bodi want to retain their traditions but they are threatened by government resettlement plans
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Slim might be in elsewhere but for Ethiopia's Bodi or Me'en people, bigger is always better. The tribe, which lives in a remote corner of Ethiopia's Omo Valley, is home to an unusual ritual which sees young men gorge on cow's blood and milk in a bid to be crowned the fattest man.

Six months after starting the regime, the men emerge to show off their newly engorged physiques and for a winner to be chosen. The champion fat man is then feted as a hero for the rest of his life. 

Now the little known rite is the subject of incredible photos taken by French shutterbug Eric Lafforgue - who spent time with the Bodi while travelling through south-western Ethiopia during the run up to the Bodi New Year or Ka'el ceremony.